New building planned in southwest Bonner Springs

The dilapidated former River Road Inn in southwest Bonner Springs is no more, making way for a potential new building that will help a neighboring business expand.

Jason and Christine Slinkard of Tonganoxie purchased the property at Santa Fe and Loring Lane, removing the former bar earlier this year, and are seeking to build a 60-by 78-foot industrial building at the site for their business, Custom Welding and Fabrication, Inc., which is directly north at 214 Santa Fe Road.

The Bonner Springs Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission will consider requests from the Slinkards at its meeting Tuesday for the new building’s construction.

The first item for consideration is a 12.5-foot variance to the required 20-foot front yard setback from the street. As it is a corner property, it has two “front” yards, and the building would be constructed closer to Santa Fe Road.

The property owners said they weren’t aware that the River Road Inn had been built 2.5 feet inside of the right of way, just a couple of feet from the road at the closest point, so they had originally planned to construct a building about the same size in the same location. The current plan pushes the new building more than 7 feet from the road.

Also requested is the vacation of part of the right of way and an alleyway on the back side of the property.

The property also includes a home on the south side, which the Slinkards are improving in order to sell or rent.

Don Slone, city planning director, said the Slinkyards haven't submitted plans for the new building yet but wanted to get these preliminary items completed.